AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Both are molecules/ions that help enzymes catalyse reactions. However, coenzymes are actually a type of cofactor. Coenzymes are small, non-protein organic molecules that carry chemical groups between enzymes (e.g. NAD and FAD).

Detailed explanation-2: -A cofactor is any non-protein substance required for a protein to be catalytically active. Some cofactors are inorganic, such as the metal atoms zinc, iron, and copper in various oxidation states. Others, such as most vitamins, are organic.

Detailed explanation-3: -The protein part of an enzyme is known as apoenzyme. The non-protein constuituents which are bound to the enzyme are called co-factors. Three types of co-factors are identified. They are: prosthetic groups, co-enzymes and metal ions.

Detailed explanation-4: -A cofactor is a non-protein chemical compound or metallic ion that is required for an enzyme’s role as a catalyst (a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction). Cofactors can be considered “helper molecules” that assist in biochemical transformations.

Detailed explanation-5: -A complete enzyme is called a holoenzyme; if the cofactor is removed, the protein, no longer enzymatically active, is called the apoenzyme.